President Guyon,Director Davidson, Distinguished faculty, Families, friends and graduates of the class of 1991:

Thank you for this honor, and for making this day one of the
highlights of my professional career.

Now before I begin my formal presentation, I have a favor to
ask of the graduates of 1991.

At the count of 3, I'd like you all to say "Good afternoon,
director Suter."

1...2...3... [Good afternoon Director Suter]

Good afternoon.

There's an ulterior motive behind my request.

According to my office of employee services -- DCFS will probably
be needing to fill at least 200 social worker vacancies this year.

And if you decide to apply for one of those jobs -- you can
now mention to the DCFS recruiter that you personally know their boss -- and that
you happened to have had a recent conversation with her.

Other commencement speakers will give similar introductions
at SIU social work graduations in years to come.

But I'm glad that DCFS and I were invited to be here at your
first graduation ceremony for the SIU school of social work.

II Finding a Happy Job

Turning now to my presentation...

Probably the deepest concern that many of you have today is
finding a job that makes you happy.

And I have some good news for you.

According to a survey published in the February issue of Child
Welfare magazine -- the vast majority of social workers who were questioned reported
being very satisfied with their jobs a year after they graduated. There were some
differences, though, in why they were happy.

Those who worked for government agencies were more likely to
report being satisfied with their salaries.

And those who worked for private agencies were more likely
to report being satisfied with their client contacts -- probably because they
dealt with fewer involuntary clients.

Yet I believe that this contrast of job choices -- between
better salaries and easier clients -- is gradually eroding.

Private agencies are doing a more impressive job of lobbying
for equitable pay.

Public agencies are more willing to let private agencies move
closer to the decision-making loop than in years past.

Public and private agencies are also sharing more programmatic
links.

And that means an increased sharing of caseloads, which include
involuntary clients.

In fact -- a majority of all direct services now going to DCFS
clients -- are being delivered by private agency staff.

The truth is -- the longer you look at the differences between
public and private job opportunities -- the smaller the difference you'll find
between the two.

Dr. Newcomb and the other SIU faculty members have already
prepared you to work in both realms of social work.

Today, though, I want to share four important lessons that
originate from outside the social work profession.

III. Lesson from Medicine

The first lesson comes from the medical field.

There was a famous Austrian surgeon named Dr. Billroth who
used to tell his students that a doctor needed two abilities.

The freedom from nausea.

And the power of observation.

Then he'd dip his finger into a bitterly foul liquid -- lick
it off -- and ask each of them to do the same.

One-by-one, the students would taste the liquid without flinching.

Then with a grin Dr. Billroth would say, "You have passed the
first test, but not the second."

"For none of you noticed that while I dipped my first finger
into the liquid, I licked the second."

Donald Bixler...Gail McClain...Kimberly Ford.

Do you have the power of observation to avoid tasting the bitter
liquid?

Except for the medical field -- there is probably no other
profession where experience counts so much as in social work.

That's one of the reasons why I came here today.

The SIU School of Social Work has a reputation for a solid
program of internships and field practicums.

And I wanted to let you know that I strongly support this school's
curriculum.

Especially it's emphasis on learning through practice.

The skill of observation cannot be learned in the classroom
alone.

And sometimes that one skill can be lifesaving.

One of my field office supervisors -- named Dennis McCue --
has a favorite story that he tells new recruits.

It's about the time he and an intern went on a child abuse
call.

The child was already in the hospital with multiple injuries.

And soon after Denny and intern arrived at the child's home,
they found themselves in a tense situation.

They were in a small living room with 10 angry relatives who
were fed up with government interference in their lives.

While the intern was patiently trying to get information from
the child's mother -- Denny overheard one of the relatives say that "If something
wasn't done soon, bad things would happen."

Then the relative left the room.

Then there was a sounded of a silverware drawer opening in
the kitchen.

The first quotation comes from the famous sports writer, Grantland
Rice.

He said:

"When the Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he
marks not that you've won or lost, but how you played the game."

To which coach Vince Lombardi replied:

"If it doesn't matter who wins, then how come they keep score."

Doing things right and keeping score.

Both matter in the social work field.

Jennifer Willis, Julie Johnson Ray, and Dale Neatherly.

You and your classmates have practically memorized Laird's
Handbook on Child Welfare Services and Rubin's book on research methods for social
work.

Some of you on the night before final exams.

Now I ask you if you have the power to take those ideals and
transform them into something that makes a difference in a person's life?

There are plenty of examples for you to follow.

There's James Gordon -- a SIU graduate in sociology who went
back to the projects where he grew up in Mt. Vernon...

...took a 75 hundred dollar grant from DCFS...

...and built a series of youth and community development programs
that have brought more than three million dollars in services and benefits to
the impoverished southtown area of Mt. Vernon.

There's John Smyth -- a first round draft pick in the NBA who
gave up a promising career in pro basketball -- so that he could join the priesthood...

take control the financially strapped Maryville Academy...

...and turn it into one of the nation's strongest, most innovative
treatment centers for teenage prostitutes and other youth who were rejected by
other programs as unreachable.

And there's Dr. Mary Davidson --

One of the pioneers of the school of social work whose name
appears on your diplomas.

But she's not only a leader and a scholar on campus.

Her influence reaches into professional journals and onto the
floors of government institutions.

DCFS has one of the strongest in-house and MSW training programs
of any state agency in the country.

And a large amount of credit goes to Professor Davidson and
her work on the advisory panel that guided our training program's development.

VI. Superman

The fourth lesson is about superheroes of another kind.

It's a true story about the time when a flight attendant once
asked Mohammed Ali to fasten his seat belt.

Ali said, "Superman don't need no seat belt."

And the stewardess said, "Superman don't need no airplane,
either."

The reason why I tell this story is because there are ways
in which society treats our clients like they were superman.

Think about it.

Social work clients are often labeled as somehow different
from "us."

Like they came from another planet.

Loneliness and isolation are part of their lot in life.

And most of all -- they are expected to be self-reliant.

They must handle their own problems.

They don't need no air planes.

They don't need -- they don't rate -- the same compassion,
the same access to social support and medical services that others enjoy.

Deborah Alcorn, Robin Lee Charles, and Ronald Wyatt.

You are graduating from an institution that has taught you
that social work involves more than healing individuals -- it means advocating
for the interests of people who are oftentimes shunned by society.

Will you and your classmates settle for doing half the job
of a social worker? Or are you willing to take on the mantle of an advocate, as
well?

VII. Philosopher.

The final lesson comes from the philosopher, Lily Tomlin, who
once noted that , "We are all in this alone."

In the beginning of my talk, I noted a survey that indicated
that many social workers enjoyed their careers.

But there are other surveys that reveal high burnout rates
in this field.

And one of the most common reasons cited by those who left
was not low pay or tough caseloads -- but a sense of isolation.

Michelle Reynolds, Joseph Phillips, and Cynthia Stoll...

I have mentioned your names -- and those of your other classmates
-- because I want you to know that you are both individuals and members of an
elite fraternity.

In a few hours, I'll be driving home to visit with my father
on his birthday.

Many of you have parents and relative with you today.

A few minutes ago, I mentioned the trouble I had in getting
my first job.

But my father and mother gave me some of the emotional support
needed to carry on.

My father gave me my first car with hand controls when I was
16 years-old, so I could have the same independence as other kids my age.

And from the day I contracted polio when I was two years-old
-- throughout graduate school -- and to this day -- I knew I could rely on my
family to care.

And judging by the attendance in this auditorium -- I think
that many of you have families that care deeply about you.

They are part of your inner fraternity, as well as your classmates,
your future coworkers, and others who will be serving by your side.

Draw on those strengths regularly!

VI. Conclusion

In conclusion, I'd like to quote part of an old gospel song.

It said:

"Tell them, even if they don't believe you."

"Just tell them, even if they don't receive."

"Tell them that I love them."

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 1991 -- you are the messengers
for the caring members of a society that is reaching out to its most vulnerable
members.

And many who you will try to reach will not initially accept
you.

Yet even when you fail -- a message will get across that someone
cared enough to try.